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Louisiana Storm Victims Get Relief from IRS

Louisiana Storm Victims Get Relief from IRS

Taxpayers in four Louisiana parishes have been granted relief by the Internal Revenue Service, in light of the recent storms and flooding that have plagued their area. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) declared East Baton Rouge, Livingston, St. Helena, and Tangipahoa parishes a federal disaster area, clearing the way for the IRS to grant its additional measures.

Residents of the four affected parishes will have until Jan. 17, 2017, to file certain individual and business income tax returns and make tax payments. This includes the Sept. 15 deadline for making quarterly estimated tax payments. A variety of business tax deadlines are affected, including the Sept. 15 deadline for corporation and partnership returns on extension, and the Oct. 31 deadline for quarterly payroll and excise tax returns.

The IRS is also waiving late-deposit penalties for federal payroll and excise tax deposits normally due on or after Aug. 11 and before Aug. 26, as long as the deposits are made by Aug. 26.

Complete details of the tax relief measures offered by the IRS are available on the IRS.gov disaster relief page.

Besides residents of the four affected parishes, the IRS measures are also available to relief workers assisting operations in the disaster area and who are affiliated with recognized governmental or philanthropic organizations. If other parishes are added to the federal disaster declaration, their taxpayers will be eligible for the relief measures as well.

Bob Williams

Forget genes; I’ve got words in my DNA. Communication has been part of who I am nearly all my life. From a long career in radio news to another one in newspapers – and a University of Georgia journalism degree sandwiched between the two – language has been my life. I’ve also been fortunate to have learned the tax business from the ground up here at Drake, starting with 1040.com online forms some years ago before moving on to work on the Web. In all things tax-ish, we aim to give you tools you can use.